"The net is designed so the caught drone doesn't hit the ground", except when the drone's distance to the ground is shorter than the length of the rope.... in which case, said explosive-wielding drone detonates on impact?

What happens if that octo flies away w/ said explosive-wielding drone, runs out of battery, and lands in a school yard full of children?

What happens if that octo crashes into a crowd of people whilst trying to snare the "rogue drone"?

Rastgaar, an associate professor of mechanical engineering at Michigan Technological University, began work on a drone catcher, which could pursue and capture rogue drones that might threaten military installations, air traffic, sporting events—even the White House.​

For this to work at say a stadium, they would need to have a fleet of these things only a few hundred metres apart around the stadium, all on standby ready to launch instantly and with experienced crews.
According to the professor “The FAA [Federal Aviation Administration] has just announced that drones must be registered, and we think the catcher could help enforce the law by catching unregistered drones,”
And he thinks he can help with that?
OK professor ... how many dogcatcher drones do you think you need to deploy around the US and how are they going to identify these unregistered drones that are such a big problem that must be dealt with?
Back to the drawing board?
I think the professor should get outdoors a little more and go fly a Phantom occasionally.

Staff Member

It is a better solution than the guy who was pushing a square net hung from the bottom of a UAV.
It may be good for say a prison where they see one incoming.
I am sure there will be laser shooting UAV's some day soon.

I just don't see it catching anything but air, especially at full throttle. I can see the net opening and the interceptor drone flying into it easy enough but I doubt if it will ever catch me hahaha. Come and get me copper...